Question of the Week: 59 - 9/11/2001911 America: Talking Through The Terror...Talking Through The Terror... And helping each other cope with the tragedies that struck at the very heart of the United States. The Witches Voice has opened up this forum in order that Pagans may express their thoughts on the terrorist attacks that took place in NYC and DC on September 11th. As the full realization of what happened and the toll numbers begin to come in, Americans have many challenges ahead.

What are your thoughts on these incidents? How are you feeling? Feel free to post any magickal workings or other support gatherings planned in your area.

WebNote 9/16/2001: Since we launched this on 911 this forum as become laced with powerful inspiration and critical information, feel free to use the search functions on your left to better define the info you are looking for. Search for your area, famous Pagans, key words etc. Also check Wren's Nest News for the latest news related to our community.

Please, Also: Goddess Bless And Protect All The Animal Companions Who Will...

Sep 13th. at 5:17:49 am UTC

Pagan Mother (Palo Alto, California US)

Age: 38

Please, also: Goddess Bless and protect all the animal companions who will not be able to understand why the people who were the center and beloved family of their lives are not coming home - Please let all those who may have been waiting alone at home, perhaps unknown to other humans, be found and taken care of.

"Pets" understand love. They love us. We are their precious family. My usually not-very-demonstrative dog has been snuggling close and licking and licking my hands as I cry and hug my husband, children and dogs....

I think everyone will agree with the words from one of my favourite songs, 'Fault The Police' by Corporate Avenger:

"I don't cry when a terrorist dies, 'cause they probably deserved it.Went around with a bomb and a gun and they goddamn fugged with everyone.Enforce rules, made by fools, violence and fear their tools.Bomb souls to the sky and a mother she cries as she watches her babies die."

I was shocked and sickned when i heard. My mum came home and said turn on the television the world trade centre has been attached. Then i saw the pictures. I could not believe it. So many people..

Then i heard about the pentagon and saw the pictures of the second tower being hit. Then i started to worry for a relation working in sears tower. What if that was next?. The shock in Ireland was unbeliveable. Everyone nearly has relations over there. New york is a second home to so many Irish.

Why did this happen? who had lost so much hope that this happened..?That evening when the attacts happened in afganistan, i remember the worry. the americans have attached.. they have lost control.. People worried until the news came it wasn't the US.

The dead have to be buried and mourned and the lost and hurt need to be comforted. Let there be no more victims and let justice be done.

I Live In Downtown Brooklyn, 3 Miles From Ground Zero. I Went...

Sep 13th. at 6:40:36 am UTC

Beth (Brooklyn, New York US)

Age: 25

I live in downtown Brooklyn, 3 miles from ground zero. I went to the Promenade today. It's in Brooklyn Heights and overlooks the Manhattan skyline. It was so weird to not see the twin towers there. We took pictures on the promenade after our wedding, sunset with the skyline behind us. odd....

I felt like I HAD TO go to the Promenade- like I had to see it with my own eyes, or just plain ol "bear witness"

There were about 200 people there at 9 this morning. Everyone was chatting and just the whole "New Yawk" veneer was gone. Common experience does that I guess... I was sitting on a bench and the people around me were all talking and it just seemed so natural for all of us to be chatting- everyone had coffee too. it was like, well, a coffee-klatch. NY is like this once a year: new years eve and people are still curt with each other as they rush to their parties.

One of my first thoughts was of the NYC Pagan Pride Event, of which I'm the Entertainment Coordinator- we were supposed to have the event in Battery park, which was literally in the shadow of the WTC. I was there Friday to pick up the permit. Odd... The site was picked because there's an awesome view of the Statue of Liberty. So here are the words forever associated with her:

Personally, I'm not usually so shocked by reseaving news like this, but an act like this makes a huge difference. As a Finnish, a Europian person I'm partly glad I wasn't there and partly unbelieavably sad and furstrated, because I can't help people in need across the ocean.

It just makes me so, so sad. I give all my loving and if possible, spiritual support to help the victims, their families and loved ones, and anyone who feel the great sadness and loss such as I do. Things like this should not happen at all, anywhere!

There are a few things that became apparent to me about 6 months ago. The people of Isreal were becoming slaves to the Taliban. I read of the atrocities and kept up with the news there. What I saw was slavery, oppresion, and poverty. I only wish we all could have done something to stop these events. This is the consequences of trying to stay out of it but yet always keeping one foot in Iraqi soil. I am truly struck with grief over the event that took place but see that our government was semi responsible. I wish to share this with you all keep in mind at all times my love goes out to the families of all involved.

The karmic effect of trying to make there country a seperate world that does not effect us has resulted in the loss of life. The plot to destroy freedom has existed before and is upon us again. While watching them burn our flag and the star of david it was very much apparent in the symbolism. I am not surprised so much as disgusted. There has never been a difference between the people of Isreal and the Jewish people of Isreal. They were chosen to make us see. That whenever there is people without freedom those who are slaves, that those with prosperity should help them find freedom. All this country has done is pissed the TAliban off. It is like picking on the Nazis you either put together all your resources and crumble slavery and oppression or continue to let it exist. The Russian armed forces were in Afganistan not too long ago so they would support us as well as Britain. Why not take the 3 armies and force them to surrender to military rule. NO war just outnumber them. Facing these alied forces what Third world country would have a chance. I do not want to go to war every few years with these people. We have to make a stand we either believe in karma and a higher power or we dont. We either want them to stop there horrible acts against humanity or we but out. Both will have consequences taking the middle ground though has proved catasrophic. As far as the hyjackers and those who support them they should be killed. There was never a difference between this and the Holocaust. Slavery should not be allowed to exist on this planet anywhere. This is a religious war. I hope this does not affend anyone it is only what I am seeing. I wished to share it to make sense out of what some are saying is a completely senseless act that has no meaning to it. I think there is a meaning and that is the government should either have minded their own business and faced the karmic consequences or stopped these horrible acts of the Taliban and Iraqi terrorists a long time ago.

I'm sure for most of the dozens of people in the Red Cross Blood center, it was a sacrament. I'm not sure how many stared intently at the bag as it filled with vermilion life and charged it with love and healing. I know that I felt better afterward. Instead of heavy, helpless, I felt myself clear and with a sense of peace. I hope that each of us can find that little center of peace so that all of us can think and act with clarity and purpose, when the time comes to act.

That time will come, even if it hasn't come yet. Before we can act, we MUST be clear-minded. We have to know that we are doing what we can. We have to acknowledge that true justice, true karma, is very much a thing of time and patience. None of us want that. We all want the easy fix, the instant retribution. In order to be sure that we get that true justice, we must be willing to wait.

As pagans, we have to stand up for the many innocent followers of Islam in this country and others. Too many will rush to judgement against all who follow the Koran...WE must not. Remember that thousands of them are now in the same position we find ourselves day to day: judged by our religion. For most of them it's even worse: most of us can be closeted easily, since the overwhelming majority of pagans are white. Their skin color and in many cases accents and places of worship will mark them.

I have never done blood ritual before. There has never been anything that called to my soul, saying that it was necessary. I know there are warriors and guardians in the pagan ranks. You are in my thoughts as you stand ready to do your work. I know there are healers in our midst. I hope that your work goes smoothly, and that there will be more found alive for your waiting hands. I know some of you have lost loved ones. I hope their spirits rest easy, remembered and cherished, and that your own healing comes soon.

As a canadian living in England, I felt at first that it was all a disgusting joke or perhaps even a sick movie promotion. I couldn't believe it because I thought that human nature, conscience, couldn't LET something like this happen.It only started to hit me when I saw those awful pictures of the people trying to wave for help.

My grandfather trained as a consultant in the WTC. He worked there for a while, had friends and collegues in the building. Even his company's bank address was in the WTC. Luckily, he was visiting Cape Verde instead of the states this week, and believe me I feel guilty over being glad it was someone else.

How can we try to be stop violence when things like this happen? I have been having these giant raging emotions of pain, anger, and sadness over the racism and hate that I have seen cause this tragedy, and surface because of this tragedy.

My immidiate family all live in England, (we moved 4 years ago), but I wish I was back in Canada, with my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and my other set of Grandparents, I need to see for myself that they are all right. I need to tell them all that I love them and miss them. I need to help somehow, but I can't, I'm anaemic and broke, and that pretty much limits me to praying for and consoling those other teenagers who lost loved ones, via the bolt website (www.bolt.com) where there are people who lost loved ones and are looking for answers or advice in the current events message boards. I think, in this little way, I can help.

OK folks, here's the plan. Tomorrow night I ask that you all do a ritual to send out healing energies to the victims, their families and friends, guiding energies to the rescue workers, and stamina to the fire fighters, police, cleaning crews, doctors, nurses and others who are working so hard without sleep to help those in need during this time of crisis. Do whatever kind of ritual you feel most comfortable with. I think as long as we are united in our common goal, it won't really matter if we are doing the same ritual or not. Start with those in New York. At about 11:45 envision your magick circle around the city there. Then, at around 12:00, envision it over the Pentagon. And finally, at about 12:15 do the same for those in Pennsilvania. Focus your energies in these locations at these times and imagine them joining the magick from others around the world to bring hope, healing, luck, peace of mind, comfort, guidance and stamina to all those personally effected by this. By personally effected I mean those who either lost family or friends or are, in some way, directly involved in the rescue and clean-up efforts. In the aftermath of this horrible tragedy they will need all the help they can get. For many of us, those who are to far away to be directly involved, there is a frustrating feeling of helplessness at being unable to do anything. This is what I would like to do to help out. Please, anyone who is able, join us in this effort.

My name is Tamryn and I live in Toronto. I am shocked beyond words over what happened on Tuesday. It sickens me to think that there are those out there that consider this to be justified. My heart goes out to the victims of this horrific tragedy. I also know that the shock of what happened is going to start wearing off and the realities are going to start hitting home to those directly affected by this. In times of great crisis there always seems to be an unlimited supply of strength for those who have to weather through the worst....but when the crisis is over, and there is time to reflect and grasp the ramifications of what has happened...that is when people need the strength the most.

This all being said, I propose that the Pagan community in Toronto gather on Saturday, September 15th at 7:00 to raise healing energy for the victims of this tragedy and their family. The gathering will be at (and wouldn't you know I can't find the name of the park for love nor money) the park just south of Lympstone, which is 1 block south of Yonge and Lawrence on the East side. It is easily accessible by TTC (Lawrence station). (it's the park between Lympstone and Chatsworth on the east side).

I have checked with the various organizations and what is need the most right now is money, so a collection will be set up and taken to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts.

For those not in the Toronto area, perhaps spread the word and arrange for gatherings in your community at the same time. Lets combine our efforts to raise as much healing energy we can.

As it is starting to get dark earlier now, please bring candles and/or flashlights.

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